Eyeworld

July 2018 • Ophthalmology Business 17 N ew ophthalmologists have their choice of job opportunities with the aging of the population and many older eye surgeons retiring. As new ophthalmologists look at job offers, one important consideration is the culture of a practice and how it matches up with the candidate's own values and priorities. Just how can a physician get a good handle on the practice culture before actually working there? The symposium "Choosing the Best Practice for You: Tips and Tricks for Making the Right Choice" at the 2018 ASCRS•ASOA Annual Meeting provided insights on this topic. One first step is to define your professional goals and values, rec- ommended Zachary Zavodni, MD, The Eye Institute of Utah, Salt Lake City. "To find the right fit, you have to define it for yourself first," he said. This can be hard for physicians in a more technically and analytically oriented specialty like ophthalmolo- gy, he said. However, doing this can help you hone in more quickly on the right practice culture and fit for you. Some examples of values that he finds important include collaboration with physician partners, treating all patients like family, putting a priority on new technology, and aiming for a work/life balance. Everyone's list will be different. Job candidates should make a list of what you must have in a new job versus what would be nice but not mandatory, said Mark Hansen, MD, Minneapolis. Some items to consider include location, family obligations, work/life balance, technology at the practice, practice size, call coverage, scheduling, salary, your significant other, and specific things you would like to see in the practice culture. Edwin Chen, MD, Scripps Health, San Diego, said that longer- range thinking about your career and practice fit is crucial for physicians, who have likely thought in 4-year chunks of time all the way through graduation. Although you can always leave a job that does not suit you, use your job searching experience to think beyond the short term and find a good long-term fit, he advised. Once you have a better idea of your career and practice priorities, you can delve deeper into the culture of a practice where you might work. Here are some pearls shared at the symposium on how to do this. 1. Find out if the practice has a written mission state- ment or written values. If they do, this could clue you into their culture and priorities, and you can assess if what they believe in aligns with your own values, Dr. Zavodni said. 2. Note how you are greet- ed by the office staff before they know who you are, advised Craig Piso, PhD, Piso and Associates, Larksville, Pennsylvania. Are you greeted warmly or ignored? The overall feeling behind those greetings can provide some insights into the practice culture. Many of Dr. Piso's suggestions on how to assess practice culture come from his own experience in corporate continued on page 18 situations where leaders did not truly believe in the company's purported values. He advises physicians to look for the sincerity behind the mis- sion and value and how that is seen throughout the practice. 3. Notice how clean the facilities are, including the bathroom and waiting room area, and the quality and cleanliness of magazines, Dr. Piso recommended. If there's an aquarium, the cleanliness of the aquarium can surprisingly tell you a lot about the practice, he added. 4. Spend some time in the waiting room, and listen to the banter among patients and staff. The waiting room experience can tell you much more about the practice culture than perhaps anything else, said Berdine Burger, MD, Carolina Eyecare Phy- sicians, Charleston, South Carolina. One thing to think about is if there's a glass panel that separates practice staff in the reception area from the patients, Dr. Piso said. Although some practices have this as a privacy measure, it could also be perceived as putting a barrier between the practice and patients. Another place where you can spend time during the interview pro- cess is the break room. Grab a sand- wich or coffee and observe, Dr. Piso advised. Employees may initially act awkwardly if they are not sure why you are there, but they'll get comfort- able quickly. Listen to what people are talking about regarding the prac- tice or their day-to-day routine. Accessing practice culture Looking for a new practice to join? Get the scoop on its priorities and values first

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